Negotiations on a possible government coalition are going relatively well, but are not yet complete, said ANO leader Andrej Babis today following his meeting with President Petr Pavel that lasted over an hour.
Babis is currently negotiating the terms of a coalition with Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Motorists. He reiterated that agreement between the three parties on all the ministries of the next possible government should be reached by Friday.
“Negotiations will continue,” Babis said after the meeting at Prague Castle. “We are trying to move relatively quickly to get the basics agreed. We will then work on other things, on programme consensus and cooperation in the lower house.”
Babis informed the President today about the negotiating process. He did not comment on who would sit in the cabinet or which party would be in charge of which ministry.
No further meetings between Pavel and Babis have yet been planned.
Babis also declined to comment on the President’s reactions to his proposals. “If he has any reservations, I’m sure he’ll let you know,” he said.
If Pavel entrusts Babis with forming a government, and a government is formed, Babis said he would like to take part in the December meeting of the European Council.
Babis also said ANO deputy leader Alena Schillerova had talks with the heads of the SPD and Motorists’ parliamentary groupings on Wednesday. He said a preliminary agreement was reached on the lower house committees and their heads.
